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Dec 18, 2012
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they had a lot of backlash against the nra. this time they're much more careful about how they're handling their public relations campaign. these tough guys in the nra who are always talking about their principles, where are they now defending them when they're unpopular. if they really believe in these principles, it's the most important time to defend them publicly is when they're under attack and despite their unpopularity you still believe in them. >> cenk: that's a great point, michael. there is one guy fighting aggressively mayor bloomberg in new york. >> it's time for the president i think to stand up and lead and tell this country what we should do. not go to congress and say what do you guys want to do? this should be his number one agenda. he's the president of the united states. and if he does nothing during his second term, something like 48,000 americans will be killed with illegal guns. that is roughly the number of americans killed in the whole vietnam war. >> cenk: well, mayor bloomberg seems to be indisputablel
they had a lot of backlash against the nra. this time they're much more careful about how they're handling their public relations campaign. these tough guys in the nra who are always talking about their principles, where are they now defending them when they're unpopular. if they really believe in these principles, it's the most important time to defend them publicly is when they're under attack and despite their unpopularity you still believe in them. >> cenk: that's a great point,...
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Dec 19, 2012
12/12
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how did the nra end up like this? >> to bar a cliche, this is not your father's nra. the history it used to be more of a sporting group. it supported gun control in 1934 and it supported or endorsed a certain kind of gun control in 1968. it is only since the 1970s that the leadership the nra has hijacked by this radical group that you know, really, you know, engages in the kind of fearmongering and paranoia -- even glenn beck would blush at some of this stuff which is hard to believe. they do it -- i mean it fueled rise in gun sales in ammo sales. ammo sales went through the roof when barack obama became president because they told their members he was going to confiscate people's guns and they're still pushing this message. this puts more money into the pockets of the gun companies and the gun companies funnel that money back to the nra and they use that to outspend gun control groups on lobbying and political fund-raising by 10-1, sometimes by 25-1. >> eliot: you're making a hugely important distinction which is that the nra perhaps is no longer representing its mem
how did the nra end up like this? >> to bar a cliche, this is not your father's nra. the history it used to be more of a sporting group. it supported gun control in 1934 and it supported or endorsed a certain kind of gun control in 1968. it is only since the 1970s that the leadership the nra has hijacked by this radical group that you know, really, you know, engages in the kind of fearmongering and paranoia -- even glenn beck would blush at some of this stuff which is hard to believe....
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Dec 18, 2012
12/12
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made an endorsement, the nra has virtually no impact on congressional elections. the nra endorsement so coveted by so many politicians is almost meaningless, nor does the money that the organization spend have deden straightible impact on the out ofoutcome of races. joining me now is professor of history at the university of michigan, and still with me sam seder, ring of fire. professor, do you agree with me that if we went right at them we could win? >> oh, definitely. lobbyists could be ignored or defeated without great consequences for the elected representative but it's the fear that the rival will get an extra benefit, a little bit more money, maybe an angry constituency will turn against you, that causes i think elected representatives to pay too much attention to single issue lobbyist and the system is set up that they expect that there will always be somebody on the other side. and lobbyists only thrive when there aren't strong voices on the other side. >> eliot: what we're saying is complacency and cowardace. congressmen, bow and bend over and are afraid
made an endorsement, the nra has virtually no impact on congressional elections. the nra endorsement so coveted by so many politicians is almost meaningless, nor does the money that the organization spend have deden straightible impact on the out ofoutcome of races. joining me now is professor of history at the university of michigan, and still with me sam seder, ring of fire. professor, do you agree with me that if we went right at them we could win? >> oh, definitely. lobbyists could be...
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Dec 21, 2012
12/12
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we have the nra the congress is awash in nra cash. you have the stooges in congress who are not concerned with the next generation. they're concerned with the next election. we have to speak to them from home from their districts and religion can do that. we're the most religious of the modern democracies the modern industrial democracies. 40% of americans worship every week. that's more than go to a football game in the entire season. >> john: when they say it is my god-given right to have a gun. where do they get that from? there's one line in luke where jesus says buys a sword and he's speaking metaphorically and he tells him not to use sword. where do people get this notion of a god-given right to guns? >> they don't get it from the religious traditions. they get it from various elements of political culture that simply have no place in our religious thinking. we're created in the image of god. all of our major traditions embrace that principle. nothing defiles the image of god as much as pointing a gun at a small child and pullin
we have the nra the congress is awash in nra cash. you have the stooges in congress who are not concerned with the next generation. they're concerned with the next election. we have to speak to them from home from their districts and religion can do that. we're the most religious of the modern democracies the modern industrial democracies. 40% of americans worship every week. that's more than go to a football game in the entire season. >> john: when they say it is my god-given right to...
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Dec 21, 2012
12/12
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and the membership of the nra. the membership of four million folks who say yes these measures make sense, do you think we can create a divide between the wayne lapierrres of the world and other folks who may be hunters but they want reason and sanity. >> we've gotten calls and e-mails from nra members in the rural part of my district. one fella i talked to is an nra instructor. actually has a federal license for machine guns but he was adamant that you know, some of the discussion about assault weapon restrictions, high capacity clips are totally appropriate. and that you know, he really felt that the leadership didn't speak for him. this is a guy who has been a life-long member and a very active person in terms of gun programs in the state of connecticut. i actually think this is not just a talking point the president said. there is an underlying reality there is movement within the organization's grassroots membership. >> eliot: their power has been generated from the grassroots. they're able to mobilize. calls
and the membership of the nra. the membership of four million folks who say yes these measures make sense, do you think we can create a divide between the wayne lapierrres of the world and other folks who may be hunters but they want reason and sanity. >> we've gotten calls and e-mails from nra members in the rural part of my district. one fella i talked to is an nra instructor. actually has a federal license for machine guns but he was adamant that you know, some of the discussion about...